Resource: Wright v. Oklahoma

Stephen Christopher Wright is challenging Oklahoma statute Title 26 §26511 as creating barriers to running for office. The Statute allows 2 methods for candidates to get on the ballot; (i) pay a filing fee, and (ii) gather physical signatures of voters in the district. COVID-19 has caused the state to declare a state of emergency, creating barriers to person to person contact and while unemployment causes financial barriers. Plaintiff is indigent and therefore does not have the funds for the filing fee, and the federal health guidelines requiring people to not come into contact prohibits him from gathering the required signatures. Plaintiff claims the State of Oklahoma is violating his Federal Constitutional rights under the 14th Amendment by barring his right to access to the ballot. Plaintiff is seeking; (i) a temporary restraining order prohibiting the State of Oklahoma from requiring the payment of the filing fee or signatures, (ii) permanent injunction against the Statute, and monetary damages equaling the salary for the full term of a US House of Representatives in the amount of $348,000.